reddy having resumed his share of the burden of precious stones and gold pieces, the three boys were given, in turn, the glad hand and a stout pull out of the pit. the sergeant tried his best to maintain a severe manner, but the effort proved a rank failure. the delight of the big trooper over the finding and assured safety of his young charges would not down. even the natural and cultivated reserve of the englishman was not proof against the affectionate regard he felt for the boys he had both fathered and mothered for these many days.
as the rescue party marched on either side of the sergeant, striving to match his long step, walked billy and henri, with reddy close in the rear.
“you got me in a pretty mess with the colonel, you little rascals.”
“well, we just had to do it, sergeant,” answered henri. “it’s what we came for, and you can’t blame us for not throwing away our last chance to win out. it was for sure our last chance, for chateau trouville is no more.”
there was a note of sadness in the last sentence. it was of great sorrow to henri that this beautiful home place had been reduced to a smoking ruin,[124] with its priceless works of art and all those heirlooms so dear to the hearts of the race of trouville.
all that remained of the family fortune had been saved by henri and his faithful boy friends at the risk of their lives.
saved? many a league to travel, before the treasure reached its fixed destination, many a slip to be avoided, many a sharp corner to be bravely turned.
“we thank you with all our hearts, sir.”
the boys were greeting colonel bainbridge, and each was favored by that officer with a warm handshake.
“away with you now,” ordered the colonel. “get food and rest. to-morrow i have new plans for you. leave your knapsacks in yonder tent, over which a guard will be mounted.”
the boys thought that no place had ever appeared so attractive as the field kitchen, with its soup boiler and its oven on wheels. and the cooks were more than kind. it was well known that the colonel had favored attention to his young friends.
relieved of hunger and thirst the boys hunted up their old friend, the teamster, and he provided them with blankets and a comfortable nest under cover of a supply wagon.
the next morning the boys expected an after-breakfast summons from the colonel, but there was[125] no call for them from headquarters. fierce fighting was going on in the valley town of st. mihiel, on the right bank of the meuse, and, in viewing the conflict from the hillside point, the boys were thrilled by a moving picture that would have commanded a fortune in the films.
the town on which the war plague had fallen is on the site of the ancient abbey of st. mihiel, and the tide of this day’s battle surged about the noted church of st. mihiel, containing that fine statue of the madonna, by the great artist, richier, and also the choir stalls world-famed for their beauty.
henri and reddy took it as a personal grievance that these things should be threatened with destruction.
“i’ll just tell you what,” suddenly declared billy, breaking a long silence on his part, “i’d like to be the aviator who makes the first flight across the atlantic, and especially if i could start to-day from this side!”
“and leave me, billy?”
henri had applied the tonic that billy needed.
“not this day, or ever, buddy. it was only this war business that set me dreaming of better days. on to paris, old chum, you and i!”
billy was himself again.
turning back to camp, the boys were informed that the colonel had given the word that they were to report to him as soon as they could be found.
[126]
“something’s up,” predicted billy, as they hurried to headquarters.
the colonel, when they arrived, was busy poring over an outspread map, and occasionally conferring with other officers grouped about him.
it was some time before the boys received attention, for evidently some issue of considerable moment was under discussion.
when the colonel finally expressed himself satisfied with the program outlined, he turned to his young friends and remarked:
“i presume that you will not object to my making a change of base, and,” smiling, “i hope you will not deny me the honor of your company in the movement.”
“always at your command, colonel,” gallantly responded henri.
“then,” concluded the colonel, “you will be advised shortly of the hour of marching.”
“what’s to become of me?”
this was the anxious question that reddy addressed to henri as they left headquarters.
“you don’t suppose that we’re going to lose you this side of paris, do you?” was henri’s prompt counter question.
“paris!” joyfully echoed the boy. “me? let’s hurry!”
billy guessed that reddy was glad.
“i don’t know where i’m going, but i’m on the[127] way,” hummed the boy from bangor, as they hastened to tell the teamster the good news.
an hour later the sergeant came down to the wagon. as usual, he spoke to the point:
“get your bundles, boys!”
